On October 20, 2026, Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland State Department of Education announced the Blue Ribbon Schools for 2026, which included an impressive six Catholic schools from the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The recipients of this honor include Monsignor Slade Catholic School in Glen Burnie, Resurrection St. Paul School in Ellicott City, School of the Incarnation in Gambrills, St. Augustine School in Elkridge, St. Joseph School in Cockeysville, and St. Stephen School in Kingsville. Twenty-three schools across the state were acknowledged with the award by the State of Maryland, with Catholic schools from the archdioceses of Baltimore and Washington comprising an impressive 48% of the total schools recognized this year.
“This demonstrates that our Catholic schools excel not only in fostering spiritual growth but also in delivering some of the highest academic standards in the state,” said Greg Farno, Chancellor of Education for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. “It is a true testament to the unwavering dedication and talent of our administrators, staff, and, above all, the hardworking teachers and students. I am incredibly proud of this achievement.”
The prestigious Blue Ribbon School designation recognizes top-performing public and private schools in Maryland. Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools are selected based on their consistent high performance, specifically those scoring in the top 15% in math and reading on Maryland State assessments. The award also prioritizes significant academic growth.
“Academic excellence and faith formation go hand in hand in our Catholic schools,” said Sister Patricia McCarron, S.S.N.D., Ph.D., the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the archdiocese. “These Maryland Blue Ribbon School Awards affirm the dedication of our educators, the partnership of our families and the achievements of our students. Rooted in Christ, our schools nurture each child’s intellectual, spiritual and personal growth, preparing students to use their gifts in service to others. We thank the Maryland State Department of Education for this recognition and congratulate our honored school communities on this outstanding achievement.”
The Blue Ribbon School designation is the highest honor bestowed upon schools by the Maryland State Department of Education. The Maryland State Blue Ribbon Schools award program was reinstated in 2025 to replace the U.S. Department of Education’s long-running national program, which was discontinued. Over the past 10 years, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore have earned the award 19 times.